Four were ordered to participate, say they witnessed lewd conduct

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SAN DIEGO — A jury determined Tuesday that four San Diego firefighters were sexually harassed for being ordered to participate in a gay pride parade and awarded them combined damages of $34,300.

The firefighters — Alex Kane, Chad Allison, Capt. John Ghiotto and Capt. Jason Hewitt — claimed they were subjected to sexually charged conduct and lewd comments while riding a fire engine in the July 2007 parade, which drew about 150,000 spectators.

The firefighters' attorney, Charles LiMandri, said during his closing argument that his clients were targets of vulgar gestures and catcalls while being forced to watch barely clothed men and women simulate sex acts and touch themselves and one another.

"The Fire Department knew what goes on there," LiMandri told the jury.

This was the second trial on the firefighters' claims. In October, jurors were unable to reach a verdict.

LiMandri requested up to $1 million for each client at the first trial. He didn't propose specific damages at this trial.

A crew that volunteered to ride a fire engine pulled out shortly before the parade because the captain's mother died. LiMandri told the jury that department supervisors didn't try to find other volunteers, but gave the assignment to the crew in the city's Hillcrest area, home to a large gay population where the parade is held.